Junior Grand Prix at Rogue Racing - 2009
1st August:
The August round was run in a different format to the other months of this year, still the same three heats, semi-finals and final, but for this round the races would be longer. Heats were 18 laps instead of 10, semi-finals 20 laps instead of 12 and the final would be run over 22 laps rather than 14 - a finalist would get 96 laps rather than the usual 56 - a real test of fitness. And there were 19 drivers for this event including one newcomer, Monty R.
Heat one saw Sam Conn start on pole from Jordan Donegan, Thomas Row, Carl Donnellan, Daniel Truman and Will Barker. Will made the only position change in the first lap moving up into 5th place. All six karts remained running together for the first 4 laps, the big change happening on lap 5. Jordan made a move on Sam at the hairpin at the bottom of the down ramp but Sam ended up in the wall and dropped to last place. Carl moved up into second during the incident but Jordan wasn't held up and made a break away up front while Will particularly suffered and dropped back from 4th place Thomas. Will was gaining back and soon caught up the battle for 3rd and 4th while Daniel was the fastest driver on track and took over second place from Carl late in the race. Jordan caught up with Sam on the final lap and lapped him just before crossing the line with best lap of 27.73s from Daniel (27.58), Carl (28.10), Thomas (27.73), Will (27.95) and Sam (28.84).
Heat two, Geri on pole from Jack Macaulay, Ben Humphrey, Ben Sissons, Monty R and Chris Bradley. Geri got a flying start while Jack was slow off the line, Geri stormed into a 2 second lead half way round the first lap but the yellow flags came out and by the end of the lap Jack was on Geri's tail again. Ben was still with Geri and Jack on lap 2 but started to fall back as the front two got faster with Jack closing right up on Geri. Geri fought back and lapped Ben Sissons at the end of the top straight on lap 5, Jack took the remainder of the lap to get by allowing Geri to pull out a 3 second lead and look more comfortable, but another yellow light spell on lap 9 brought the gap back down to 1 second. Jack had a half spin at the final left hander setting Geri free again just before Geri caught and lapped Monty on lap 12, Monty being new didn't give up the place easily and when Jack caught him, it took Jack two laps to get by - the race was Geri's. Jack had another spin on lap 15, but remained in 2nd place though he fell back behind Monty again and could not get by for another lap. Geri went on to win by 9 seconds with best lap (and new FTD) of 27.40s from Jack (27.43), Ben Humphrey (28.37), Chris (29.55), Monty (29.80) and Ben Sissons.
Heat three, Harry Macaulay on pole from Will Barker, Tom Holland, Jordan Donegan, Jack Bradley and Callum Bradley. There was a crash on lap one coming down the ramp leaving Jack miles behind the rest of the pack, and Will back in 5th. Jordan got past Harry at the end of the bottom straight on lap 2, Tom followed him through the gap to leave Harry down in 3rd. Callum closed up on Harry and they were barging each other about. Jordan was in control up front while Will was catching back up with Harry and Callum, but these three were 12 seconds behind second place on lap 8. Callum dropped down to 5th on lap 12 while Jordan lapped Jack at the end of that lap. Will got past Harry and broke free into 3rd place while Callum recovered to catch and pass Harry on the final lap. Jordan (27.70) took his second win of the day by 11 seconds from Tom (28.19), Will (28.19), Callum (27.97), Harry (29.16) and Jack (28.54).
Heat four, Daniel Truman on pole from Chris Bradley, Sam Conn, Jack Macaulay, Thomas Row and Matthew Hopcraft. Jack wasted no time moving up into third on the first lap and into second place going up the ramp at the start of the second lap, but already was 3 seconds behind Daniel. Two yellow light sessions brought that gap down to a couple of kart lengths but Daniel was matching Jack's pace and looked to be slightly faster. On lap 9 Daniel and Jack lapped Sam, on lap 11 Jack hit Daniel as they went across the line but Daniel recovered to stay in the lead as Jack ran wide. Daniel and Jack were still running nose to tail on lap 13 as they lapped Chris, but on lap 15 Daniel pulled 2 seconds clear while Jack's kart looked out of sorts for the remaining laps. Daniel (27.41) won from Jack (27.57), Matthew (27.57), Thomas (28.02), Chris (28.77) and Sam (29.18).
Heat five and Geri back out on track. Monty R was on pole from Callum Bardley, Geri, Will Barker, Ben Humphrey and Luke Doig. Geri was drawn to use the kart Jack used in the previous race so asked the marshals to check over the kart before he went out as it had looked a handful with Jack driving. Nothing obvious was wrong with the kart so Geri used it - and it remained in use for the rest of the day. Geri got a storming start straight inside Callum and then inside Monty whose inexperience showed as he did not cover the inside. Geri was in the lead before he was half way up the ramp, and by the end of the first lap was already 3 seconds clear out front from Ben (up from 5th), Will, Callum, Luke and Monty. Monty was black flagged on lap 2 - the first of many black flags during the event as the marshals clamped down on everything like never before. Geri showed the kart was fine by setting a new FTD (27.35) on lap 4. Will, Callum and Luke were running nose to tail in the battle for 3rd but up front Geri was pulling away at more than a second a lap from Ben, he was 9 seconds ahead by lap 8, with Ben falling back fast as he was behind Monty while Geri had got past earlier. On lap 10 there was a 5 car pile-up (everyone but Geri) at the end of the bottom straight where Monty had been holding up the next four karts despite being a lap down. While they were got going again, Geri came round and joined the back of the group. Luke got past Callum at the end of lap 11 but there was another 3 car pile-up on lap 14. The order was now Geri, Callum, Ben, Will, Luke and Monty but a late black flag for Will moved Luke up into 3rd. Geri had lapped everyone but Ben, he closed right up behind Ben before taking the win by almost a lap from Ben (28.40), Luke (27.76), Will (27.79), Callum and Monty giving Geri two wins from two heats and level with Jordan at the top of the leaderboard.
Heat six, Jack Bradley on pole from Matthew Hopcraft, Harry Macaulay, Chris Bradley, Tom Holland and Carl Donnellan. Carl moved up to 4th on the first lap and the front five ran together for the first few laps with Chris dropped some way behind. There was a crash on lap 9, the order was now Jack, Matthew, Tom, Chris, Harry and Carl but Harry was black flagged. By lap 11 things had changed, the order was now Jack, Matthew, Tom, Carl, Harry and Chris with the first three running bumper to bumper, the final three all spread out. Jack (29.06) took the win from Matthew (28.85), Tom (28.67), Carl (28.14), Harry (28.42) and Chris (29.12).
Heat seven, Thomas Row on pole from Luke Doig, Daniel Truman, Callum Bradley, Sam Conn and Ben Sissons. Luke moved across to block off third place Daniel very slowly and deliberately, almost losing second in the process but allowing Thomas to get away. Ben dropped to last and was already 5 seconds down at the end of lap 1. By lap 6 the front four were running nose to tail but Sam had fallen away in 5th place, but within a lap or two the front four started to spread out with a couple of seconds now between Tom in first and Callum in 4th. As they came up to lap Ben on lap 8, Thomas tried to go past but failed allowing Luke to take advantage and the lead. Thomas lost out again as Daniel was also able to get by, on lap 9 the order was now Luke, Daniel, Thomas and Callum up front with Luke pulling away now he was in free air. Luke caught Sam on lap 15 and was running on his bumper as Daniel caught up before they both lapped Sam and then lapped Ben again. Luke (27.84) held on to win by a kart length from Daniel (27.72), then Callum (28.06), Thomas (27.67), Sam (29.21) and Ben.
Heat eight, Geri and Jordan both in the same race but starting 5th and 6th behind Ben Humphrey, Carl Donnellan, Monty R and Matthew Hopcraft. Who would come out on top and head the leaderboard? As they completed the rolling lap, Geri needed to change kart, the accelerator pedal was loose on his kart, so he now started with a cold kart. All the others had been out in the previous race. There was a big crash at the start of the top straight on lap one, Ben came out in front from Matthew, Geri (already up to 3rd), Jordan, Monty and Carl who was stuck and in need of attention. Ben lapped Carl on lap 2 while Matthew and Geri were stuck behind Carl allowing Jordan to catch back up. Jordan passed Geri on lap 2 but then all drivers were shown the black flag on lap 3 for failing to slow enough under yellow lights. Ben and Geri pulled into the sin bin next time round and were held up while Jordan and Matthew continued round for another lap before calling in and being sent straight back out - now in front of Ben and Geri due to the difference in delay On lap six the order up front was now Matthew, Jordan, Ben and Geri. Geri did his slingshot move down the top straight and passed Ben for 3rd place on lap 7, and then moved up into second on lap 9 passing Jordan at the hairpin off the down ramp, but Jordan had tried to defend the position and ended up in the wall. Geri's joy was short-lived, he was judged to blame and black flagged - and held in the sin bin for an eternity, only resuming back in 4th place and half a lap down on third. Geri responded by lowering the FTD to 27.33 but was too far back to improve his position. Jordan took the lead from Matthew on lap 17, Ben then followed him through, the race ending with a third win from three for Jordan (27.76) from Ben (28.14), Matthew (27.61), Geri (27.33), Carl (28.42) and Monty (29.24). Geri had finally been beaten after 12 consecutive race wins, his first defeat since May!
Final heat, heat nine. Tom Holland on pole from Ben Sissons, Jack Bradley, Luke Doig, Harry Macaulay and Jack Macaulay. The leaderboard before this final heat read Jordan 24, Daniel 22, Geri 21, but with Luke and Jack Macaulay both on 14 points, either of them could get past Geri's total. Luke and Jack M made good progress from the start, the order at the end of the lap being Tom, Jack B, Luke, Jack M, Harry and Ben, but Luke and Jack B were black flagged on lap 3 leaving Tom out front from Jack M, Harry, Jack B, Luke and Ben. Tom lapped Ben on lap 5 and was 4 seconds ahead of Jack M, a gap which extended to 5 seconds by lap 6. Another yellow light on lap 8 brought the gap down to 3 seconds. Tom lapped Ben again on lap 12 but was held up in doing so, now Jack M was right on his bumper. Jack took the lead on lap 14 at the bottom of the down ramp, Tom half spun during this manoeuvre but recovered to remain in second. Tom caught up with Jack again but Jack M (27.73) won from Tom (27.73), Luke (27.77), Jack B (28.41), Harry (28.57) and Ben.
The leaderboard now read Jordan 24, Daniel 22, Jack Macaulay 22, Geri 21, Tom Holland, Luke and Ben Humphrey 20, Matthew Hopcraft 19, Thomas Row, Will Barker, Callum and Carl 15 - Carl failed to make the semi-finals as his was the slowest fastest lap of the group.
Semi-final one: Jordan Donegan on pole from Jack Macaulay, Tom Holland, Ben Humphrey, Jack Bradley and Will Barker. Jordan moved right over to the left from the start almost pushing Jack Macaulay into the outer wall, but was not judged to have acted unfairly. This allowed Tom through on the inside past Jack, but Jack had retaken second place by the end of the first lap. The front three (Jordan, Jack, Tom) were already a long way clear of the final three. Jack got past Jordan on lap 5 and was soon 4 seconds clear in front. Will caught up with Ben on lap 18 in the battle for 3rd place, Tom had fallen back. Jack (27.75) won by 4 seconds from Jordan (27.70) who in turn was 6 seconds clear of Ben (28.28) and Will (27.91) who crossed the line nose to tail with Tom (27.99) and Jack Bradley (28.30) bringing up the rear.
Semi-final two: Daniel Truman on pole from Geri, Luke Doig, Matthew Hopcraft, Thomas Row and Callum Bradley. Daniel and Geri started to edge away from Luke but by lap 4 the front four were running together again before Daniel and Geri pulled out a gap again. Luke caught right up with Geri on lap 12 and bumped him around a bit earning a "no bumping" board. Geri made his move on lap 14 taking the lead from Daniel coming down the down ramp, Luke followed him straight through, Daniel losing two places in the space of about a dozen kart lengths. Geri lapped Callum on lap 15, Luke again followed through and kept Geri under pressure to the end. Geri (27.39) won by just a second from Luke (27.56), Daniel (27.59), Matthew (27.40), Thomas (27.78) and Callum (28.01) - the front four all recorded faster laps than anyone in the first semi-final!
The final. Geri on pole from Jack Macaulay, Luke Doig, Jordan Donegan, Daniel Truman and Ben Humphrey. Another flying start, Geri was a second up at the end of the first lap. Luke passed Jack going down the ramp on lap 2 by the end of the lap Geri was 3 seconds clear with second to fifth running nose to tail. Ben had been dropped unable to maintain the pace. Ben crashed on lap 6 and was black flagged, second to fifth were still running nose to tail with Geri way out front on his own, by lap seven the lead was 5 seconds. Geri lapped Ben just as Ben came out of the sin bin leaving the other four drivers to come round behind him. On lap 11 it was Jordan and Daniel's turn for a black flag and visit to the sin bin. On lap 13 Luke was coming roudn to lap Ben but Jack smacked into him and was able to pass Luke for second place. Geri was 9 seconds clear of Jack on lap 14, with Luke a second further behind but Luke caught and repassed Jack going up the ramp on lap 15. Geri had a commanding lead but still set a new FTD (27.22) on lap 16 and lapped Ben again on lap 18 just as the red lights came on - Jack's neck brace had fallen off. Once replaced, the race restarted - Geri got away well and by the end of lap 19 was 12 seconds clear of Luke and Jack who caught Ben just as they came round to the chequered flag. Geri (27.22) won by 14 seconds from Luke (27.56), Jack (27.43), Daniel (27.41), Jordan (27.57) and Ben (28.14).
Geri scored 37 points to Luke's 34 (and Jack's 36) so extends his championship lead with 376 points to Luke 344 and Jordan 222 - with 2 lowest scores removed, the top three reads Geri 313, Luke 280, Jack Macaulay 207.
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